Page 62 of Royal Captive
Twenty
EVE
“Ah, I see the clothing fits.”
I blinked and glanced up from where I sat on the chaise lounge next to Shyllon, my fingers clenched around one of the many silk pillows surrounding us.
The party was in full swing, but I barely noticed the dozens of fae and humans alike who clustered here every night to party, drink, and fuck. And they seemed to lose interest in me after a few nights of me doing absolutely nothing but sitting by Shyllon’s side, a dull statue who had nothing interesting to say or do.
“Yes, thank you,” I murmured back, fingering the edge of the fur trim on my long dress made of thick, warm wool.
The amount of clothing Calten and I had returned with seemed laughable, but after a few days here, I understood why: the mornings and nights were bitterly cold, but midday to dusk could get unbearably hot. The disparate temperatures were difficult to adjust to, and they didn’t seem to affect the fae asmuch as they did the humans. The cold had barely impacted the prisoner fae who’d competed in the games.
Alihandro hadn’t been back here since that first night. I felt oddly abandoned, even though logically I knew that no one here owed me anything. And yet … It still hurt.
“It’s so good to see a new crop of humans. It always freshens things up,” said a fae who was talking to Shyllon as I sat dully at his side. Clearly, he was talking about me.
“Yes, quite,” Shyllon responded, shooting me a concerned look. “Eve?”
I jerked, and obediently flashed a smile. The fae grinned back, showing his fangs and patting me on the head like a clever pet. The moment he turned his back, my smile died.
Every night Shyllon held these parties that demanded my attendance, but I wasn’t required to do anything. Fae nobles came and partied, had sex, ate and drank. Every night.
What was the point?
“They will leave soon. It’s an early night,” Shyllon continued.
I perked up, but he only sighed at me.
“What?” I asked, wary.
“The king is coming. He said he had a surprise for you,” Shyllon said, sitting up and resting his hands on his knees, fingers kneading into his muscles. I frowned, realizing he was dressed much more formally than his normal pristine tunic and breeches. A purple sash across his chest was pinned with a diamond brooch. His shined boots reflected the candlelight back at me. Why had it taken me so long to notice?
“Not a nice surprise then,” I surmised.
Shyllon huffed. “Your intelligence makes this easier for me, but it won’t make what’s coming better for you.”
“And that is—”
“And remember—”
“Don’t eat the food,” I answered tiredly.
Shyllon frowned at my dull expression. “Right. I don’t want anyone poisoning my favored princess. Behave yourself.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to respond, but that would prove I wasn’t behaving myself, so I kept silent, wrapping my fur-lined cloak around my body. I could never seem to shake the constant chill that filtered into the open windows at night.
The night dwindled, and sure enough, the partygoers left much earlier than usual. That didn’t bode well. Wouldn’t they want to be around to see their king? Unless they didn’t know, and Fennis was coming just to see me.
Oh, goody.
“Come. It’s time.”
Wordlessly, I followed Shyllon out of the party room and down the hall. I had to take the grand staircase two steps at a time to keep up with him. He turned and went down the back hallway, disappearing into two large double doors on the left.
My skirts swished around the corner as I turned after him, my lips parting in shock at the massive audience chamber before me. I kept forgetting just how enormous this manor was.
The king was already there, sitting primed and ready atop a small throne, hands steepled together as his eyes went straight to me, one dark eyebrow raised. I was prepared for all of that.
